Mom, Wife, Boss: Juggling Life While Growing a Handmade Empire

Mom, Wife, Boss: Juggling Life While Growing a Handmade Empire

People often ask me, “How do you do it all?”
The truth is...I don’t. Not perfectly, anyway. But I’ve learned to flow with the chaos, build with intention, and hold space for my roles as a mom, wife, and business owner without losing myself in the process.

This is what it really looks like behind the scenes of Merle’s Garden.


A Day in My Life

My mornings begin before the sun does, usually with a cup of coffee in one hand and a planner in the other. I check my inventory, prep for upcoming events, answer emails, all while making breakfast and packing lunches.

Once the house settles and my little one is busy, I get to work. Mixing batches of body cream, pouring perfumes, printing labels, and fulfilling orders. In between? Laundry. Dishes. A quick call with my husband. Sometimes I don’t sit down until evening.

This life isn’t about balance. It’s about rhythm—and knowing when to pause and when to push.


Marriage + Motherhood in the Middle of It All

My business wouldn’t exist without the support of my family. My husband is my sounding board, my muscle at festivals, and the person who reminds me to eat on market days. My daughter? She’s my why. She watches her mom chase dreams, create with her hands, and stay soft while doing hard things.

That’s the legacy I want to leave her. That’s the garden I’m tending.


Routines That Keep Me Sane

Here are a few rituals I lean on to stay grounded:

  • Planning Sundays: I map out my week, from product batches to family time.

  • Self-Care Mondays: I dedicate time each week to use my own products. Yes, even if it’s just a quick wash and buttercream combo. 

  • Tech-Free Nights: Some evenings, we disconnect from screens to reconnect as a family.

None of it is perfect. But these routines help me show up better in every area of my life.


Lessons I’ve Learned

  • You’re allowed to grow slowly. Overnight success is often just good branding. Real growth takes time.

  • Ask for help. Whether it’s your partner, a fellow mom, or a virtual assistant delegation is survival.

  • Give yourself grace. You won’t get it all done. That’s okay. You’re not a machine you’re a whole person.


To My Fellow Multi-Hyphenates

If you’re out here being a mama, a wife, a dream-chaser, a kitchen chemist, a customer service rep, and everything in between, know this: You are doing enough. You are becoming something beautiful.

Every jar, every label, every “thank you” note I send out is a piece of my story. A reminder that you don’t have to choose between being nurturing and ambitious. You can be both.

You can bloom and build.